Big differences over cultural issues, role of government and foreign policy

This spring, the Pew Research Center conducted a major study American political values. The survey examined public views on topics including immigration, race and ethnicity, government, family, sexual identity, religious values and foreign policy. Reports released earlier this year examined these attitudes among supporters of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, then likely major-party presidential nominees.
Because Pew Research Center surveys the same adults over time using the American Trends online panel, we are able to link respondents’ voting preferences across multiple surveys for this analysis. As a result, we can analyze the results of the spring survey based on voting preferences collected in a more recent survey in August, when we asked voters their preference for the presidential race between Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
This analysis uses responses from 4,527 registered voters who participated in both surveys. The values survey was conducted from April 8 to 14, 2024. The voting preferences survey (support if the presidential election were held today) was conducted from August 5 to 11, 2024.
All those who participated in these surveys are members of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), a group of people recruited through a national random sampling of residential addresses who have agreed to complete surveys on a regular basis. This type of recruitment gives nearly all American adults a chance to be selected. The surveys were conducted either online or by telephone with a live interviewer. The results are weighted to be representative of the American adult population based on gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education, and other factors. Learn more about the ATP methodology.
See the original reports (links in the text of this report) for the full outline. Here is the investigation methodology for this analysis.
The 2024 presidential campaign has changed radically since Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic Party’s nominee.

What hasn’t changed are the vast differences in political values between voters who support Harris and those who support Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Following Harris’ extraordinary rise to the top of the Democratic ticket, this publication and the detailed tables serve to update Pew Research Center data on political values that we published earlier this year, when Biden was still in the race.
Cultural Values and the 2024 Elections
The sharpest differences between Harris and Trump supporters are over issues that have divided Americans for decades, such as the role of guns in society, race and the legacy of slavery.
Additionally, voters who support Harris and Trump have very different views on immigration, gender identity and whether society should prioritize marriage and procreation.
Here is the original report on cultural issuesreleased on June 6, 2024.
And here’s updated data on Harris and Trump supporters’ views on: Race and Racial Diversity | Immigration and language | American History | Gender, family, reproductive issues | Gender identity and sexual orientation | Religion | Crime and policing | Firearms
Views on the government and the 2024 elections
For decades, Republicans have overwhelmingly expressed a preference for smaller government, while most Democrats favor a bigger government that provides more services.

That remains the case today, with Trump supporters three times more likely than Harris supporters to favor smaller government.
Other attitudes toward government – including its role in providing health coverage – show similar trends.
However, a large majority of supporters of both candidates oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits.
Here is the original report on government viewsreleased on June 24, 2024.
And here’s updated data on Harris and Trump supporters’ views on: Scope and role of government
Foreign Policy Values and the 2024 Elections
Harris and Trump supporters also have fundamental differences over America’s place in the world.
Harris supporters are more likely than Trump supporters to say that the United States should consider the interests of its allies, and that it is at least very important for the United States to play an active role in world affairs.

Trump supporters are more likely to support policies aimed at maintaining America’s role as the world’s sole military superpower.
Here is the original foreign policy reportpublished on August 2, 2024.
And here’s updated data on Harris and Trump supporters’ views on: Foreign policy, military power of the United States
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